Wednesday, September 30, 2009

In which a conservative and liberal awakens one morning from uneasy dreams…

I have a nightmare that you will read Bible and realize that Jesus was right and that instead of bowing to Caesar and this world’s political systems I should have worked for the Kingdom and served one Master.

I have a nightmare that you read the Bible and realize that Jesus preached peace and loving your enemies…and that killing your enemies is not loving them.

I have a nightmare that you read the Bible and realize that we have one mission, to tell others of their reconciliation with God through Jesus and realize it is too late a I let fear guide me and the one Jesus sent me to give the message to I shot to protect my political system.

I have a nightmare that you read the Bible and realize that love is the answer… but it is now too late.

I have a nightmare that you read the Bible and realize the lost died all around you and you did not give a damn as you were too busy trying to protect your worldly possessions that moths and worms will eat… and missed the eternal things of real value.

I have a nightmare that you read the Bible and realize how much God gave, (His only Son) for the souls of lost mankind…

I have a nightmare that you read the Bible and realize man’s political systems will come and go… rise and fall… leaders will rise and die… yet, God’s Kingdom is eternal and will never end.

I have a nightmare that you read the Bible and realize you wasted you life following shallow philosophies of men when you should have followed Jesus.

Monday, September 28, 2009

I originally post this in 2007 and hope to re-examine the ideas here since we seem to be actually seeing this begin.

Disclaimer: I know that this is very much over simplified, yet there is not much out there on this topic.

I wrote about the next thing beyond postmodernism… and I saw two different things happening at the same time.

Pragmatism and Performatism.

Most are familiar with pragmatism.

Here is a bit, (as it is still developing) on Performatism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-Postmodernism

In a book on City as landscape: a post-postmodern view of design and planning (E&F Spon, 1986], Tom Turner argues that:

The modernist age, of "one way, one truth, one city", is dead and gone. The postmodernist age of "anything goes" is on the way out. Reason can take us a long way, but it has limits. Let us embrace post-postmodernism—and pray for a better name.

"Performatism" was coined by Raoul Eshelman, as a term to describe or replace the term "Post-Postmodernism". He goes on to describe it as "a new epoch in which subject, sign, and thing come together in ways that create an aesthetic experience of transcendency"...a place where meaning is created.[1] See also his other works.[2]

Mikhail Epstein also argues that "Post-postmodernism witnesses the re-birth of utopia after its own death, after its subjection to postmodernism's severe scepticism, relativism and its anti-utopian consciousness". Post-postmodernism has also been described as renewed faith.[3]

Here is a bit more on the subject and the “change” that is coming.

“The way out of postmodernism does therefore not lead through the intensified search for meaning, through the introduction of new, surprising forms or through the return to an authentic origin. Instead, it must take place through a mechanism completely impervious to postmodernism's modes of dispersal, deconstruction and proliferation. This mechanism, which has been making itself felt with increasing strength in the cultural events of the last few years, can be best understood using the notion of performance. Performance in itself is, of course, not a phenomenon new or unknown. In Austin's speech-act theory it refers to a language act that does what it promises ("I now pronounce you man and wife"). In the sense of an artistic event in the modernist avant-garde, a performance foregrounds or "makes strange" the border between life and art; in the happenings and performance art of postmodernism it integrates the human body or subject into an artistic context. The concept of performance I am suggesting here is, however, a different one. The new notion of performativity serves neither to foreground nor contextualize the subject, but rather to preserve it: the subject is presented (or presents itself) as a holistic, irreducible unit that makes a binding impression on a reader or observer. This holistic incarnation of the subject can, however, only succeed when the subject does not offer a semantically differentiated surface that can be absorbed and dispersed in the surrounding context. For this reason the new subject always appears to the observer as reduced and "solid," as single- or simple-minded and in a certain sense identical with the things it stands for. This closed, simple whole acquires a potency that can almost only be defined in theological terms. For with it is created a refuge in which all those things are brought together that postmodernism and poststructuralism thought definitively dissolved: the telos, the author, belief, love, dogma and much, much more.”

Source: http://www.anthropoetics.ucla.edu/ap0602/perform.htm

Now to break that down to be a bit more “user friendly”, If you buy a razor that advertises the “closest shave ever” it will deliver that promise. Or if you buy a car that has the “best gas mileage” it will deliver just that... The best gas mileage you ever got!

In it is also the idea of part become part of the bigger or whole picture. In that many make up the one… singular become the plurality. It is also about seeing people as a whole person. If one looks a the single person in all their complexity, they will be seeing them as a whole and not 1 or 2 demensional figure. Meaning a person may see a "drunk" but now will see that there is more complexity behind the "drunk" as there is also a whole person... be that they may be inwardly shaddered.

Now, if we take this into the context of Christianity and faith… it has many incredible and some scary ramifications.

People will fall between the pragmatic and the performativity of their religion… whatever works and what ever performs and get results and the people see real results will be the future of all religions and faiths.

People will still justify if it works it must be true.

Now, as a person of faith in Christ Jesus, I see that this is no problem in how I approach my faith, yet many will not find that their faith is stable to withstand the ideals of “it does as it promises”.

So, does a fundamentalist who shouts that the devil is everywhere… and that wearing a suite is more respectful to God than wearing jeans to preach in have a chance in the future… most probably as they will stay in the pre-modern/modern view… yet will see that even less people are listening to their “old truth” and searching for “eternal truth” that has been around and proven.

The difference between “old truth” and “eternal truth” that that one is based on a reinterpretation and return to scripture (which is not bad) in the 16th century, and “eternal truth” is something that has and is and will always be. In that the truth from the “eternal” is more “holistic, irreducible unit that makes a binding impression on a reader or observer.”

If we as Christians do not look very close at our beliefs and doctrines we will find churches losing more people as the “promises given” have not given the results. If for an example your church promises that God heals, you better produce that fruit. Or, say that you teach your doctrine will change one’s life then the fruit better follow suite from the promise. If you preach prosperity, then your church better be getting very rich!

Yet even more I see that a person will seek out to see that they can be a part of a bigger picture that is making a difference. They seek to be a part of the whole. In that we need to help bring people into the bigger picture and understanding of being part of the Body of Christ.

Now, I see where the real struggle will be is that the fundamentalist will be seen as not matching what they stand for.. and to survive as people of true faith, we better better represent what or Who we stand for. Otherwise, people will look as us and see a fraud or a representation of Jesus Christ.

Now, here is the “eternal truth”. Man is dead in his sin. He will always “sin” and die, unless these issues are dealt with. You see the promise is of the resurrection that is in the future… yet we also experience this resurrection now in that lives are changed.

Churches better see men and women becoming more and more like Jesus. To be not reaching to become more “god-like” (meaning we seek to be divine and “like-god” as the serpent seduced Eve with.) but to reach to be the fully human God created us to be and that Jesus was and is. (Yes, Jesus is fully God and it seems I have to state this as some will think I am talking human potential and this is like that, but not anything like it… it is not about humans become more and better “sinful” humans… but that we are becoming the New Human that is born of Heaven as Jesus was and we are to realize our New Human potential as we are “in Christ”.)

We are being transformed in to the image of Christ by the renewal of our minds… for now as we are still in the perishable body, we must be changed now in our thinking. Later we will be clothed in the imperishable.

The idea that what we teach must be able to work in the lives of those we teach must be based on these “eternal truths” that before creation Christ Jesus was “the plan” for the “us” and that we would be placed in Him at just the right time.

It is now more than ever we must depend on the Holy Spirit to guide us.

I hope to develop these thoughts more fully as I see we are fast moving from the “post-modern” to the “post-post-modern” and into this Performatism.

For a more down to earth hands way of getting this is to look at people's lives like Mother Teresa... or Shane Claiborne. To me these are people who walked or still walk as they believe... their performance of their faith matches their faith.

We must start to learn what it means to love one another... as we have just begun to learn to love God. This means we must attempt by God's power to do this... even if it is not done well but to do it over and over until we can transcend what drags us down. In a biblical sense also to learn what it means to become overcomers... and that by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

It has been 9 years since I began iggyROCKS! From the beginning I never dreamed it would take off and have as many listeners and artists who have come to see iggyROCKS! as a value. Early in my Christian life I found that Christian/faith based music often helped me get through tough times. God used the music of Larry Norman, Degarmo and Key and many others to help me realize that God would also accept me. Yet, over the years something has changed with the Christian Music Industry. To continue reading

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Just finished talking to a wacko fundamentalist who thinks that reconciliation is just for believers...

Here is his quote: "I read what you wrote, and am more than familiar with Jesus' words about reconciling with one's brother. But that isn't the 'ministry of reconciliation' that Paul spoke about in 2 Cor. 5. Read it for yourself, and see."

Really God reconciled us while we were still enemies...

"Rom 5: 10. For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!"

He asked me how those who are not saved are reconciled... and stated that reconciliation is only in one verse in Corinthians... (I will correct myself here. He stated that the phrase "ministry of reconciliation" is only mentioned once which is true, yet he still denies it is more than just for believers) blah read up on your bible dude! How about the whole "go and be reconciled to your brother" verse in Matt 5:23-24, or the verse often used out of context in Matt 18: 19-20 "19. "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." I guess that Jesus was NOT teaching reconciliation there either? If one reads the verse in context it sure is. In its context it is about reconciliation... We are to bring peace to others through Christ... that is the fullness of the ministry of reconciliation... for if we are not at peace with our brothers and sisters, we are not at peace with Christ. Without forgiveness of others we are not walking in Christ's forgiveness... and not reconciled. Matt 6:14-15 14. For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins

When we were God's enemies, we WERE reconciled through the death of Jesus on the Cross... Jesus reconciled SINNERS on the Cross... opening salvation that came... at the Resurrection... as Romans states..

The sad thing is, when I pointed him to links showing Glenn Beck lied, he then played the "I am being so persecuted card." All the while accusing me of all sorts of things.

We are saved through Jesus' life... not death. Again... read the bible and learn what it says instead of following Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh! Sheesh! And they call me the heretic... LOL! All in all, I see that following idols will give you only bad fruit...

I find it odd that when I lift up Christ over politics I get "Christians" angry. "Keep yourselves from idols..." 1 John 5:21 I believe this also includes political idols also. We are not of this world's kingdoms... we are part of God's Kingdom. I know Martin Luther talks of being of two kingdoms... yet, the Bible says, "Be a good citizen" I take that as living at peace in any kingdom... and at times... if it is ungodly... live in it as best you can. (taking in the broader ideas of Scripture.)

My politics are... Love others and live at peace as best you can. Look of ways to bring solutions to problems instead of polarization. Bring reconciliation instead of division. When we disagree, work out a reasonable solution. This is not my home, my world and my system I live under. I am accountable to God and must strive to live with a clear ... Read Moreconscience between God and man. I believe in turning the other cheek... going the extra mile... even when those that are against will not. I believe we must strive to correct injustice with peaceful means if we can and if not (as a nation) leave it to God to sort out. (I am a pacifist) I will speak out against those who are hurting out nation and pray for them as well. Over all I recognize that Jesus is King over all creation, even the USA. Those are my politics... and with the aid of Jesus I will live at peace as best I can with my Fundamentalist wacko brothers and sisters in Christ. But I will not be silent when they teach false doctrine.

2 Corinthians 5: 14. For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18. All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19. that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

I see this guy as a false teacher… Though I am not saying he is not saved. I leave that to God to judge.

Now go forth and be the Righteousness of God and bring reconciliation to those who need to know Jesus. Reconciliaiton is not just for the believer... but for those lost. It was given to us by the death of Christ on the Cross... it was given to ALL.

Friday, September 18, 2009

I love that some commentaries call The Beatitudes "The Ethics of God's Kingdom". Many read this passage and feel a sort of peace about it. I have always found it rather disturbing in the sense of living it out in daily life. I see it as challenging the very ethics of this world… those that we are taught as we live out our daily life such as, the strong will survive, meet evil with evil, never turn the other cheek and give no mercy… As I read the words of Jesus my heart is torn in two. Part of me rebels at His words and yet part of me yearns deeply for the very things He states. As I have grown more in Christ Jesus I have become to see this as more a reality in my daily life. I have began to realize more and more this is not just for the future Kingdom to come, but it is also for the Kingdom of God that is here now… in me… as the Living Christ Jesus now lives in me. The last verse strikes me the most. "Be perfect"... personally I am far from perfect. Yet, He who is Perfect lives in me now and as I live out my salvation each day, Christ Jesus Himself reveals to me and through me His Kingdom to myself and others.l Please read Jesus’ words today and meditate on them. Drink them in deeply within your soul and let them settle in your heart.

Matthew 5

1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

3 “ Blessed are the poor in spirit,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn,

For they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek,

For they shall inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

For they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful,

For they shall obtain mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,

For they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,

For they shall be called sons of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder,[a] and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause[b] shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

27 “You have heard that it was said to those of old,[c] ‘You shall not commit adultery.’[d] 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

31 “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality[e] causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’[f] 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor[g] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,[h] 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren[i] only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors[j] do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

The issue to me about talk show hosts is when one bends the truth they bend their credibilty. So what if he is 95% right when the 5% is made up of lies? Does it make them less a liar. Most often they do not admit they lied or were mistaken. How refreshing it would be to hear Rush or Beck or someone say, "oops I made a mistake... I was wrong on this one." It would get my attention. But most often the focus is how "right" they are... yet, the bible states clearly, "No one is righteous..." or as I say it, "no one is right." The only Righteous (Right) one is Jesus... the rest of us are all flawed people who do and say stupid things. We need to seek out solutions and not continue in creating further polarization. Jesus called us to the ministry of reconciliation no the minsitry of division. Don't get pulled into this worlds system... seek to find what God has for each of us to do and go out and love others as we are commanded to do.

Friday, September 11, 2009

An old country preacher.....had a teenage son, and it was getting time the boy should give some thought to choosing a profession. Like many young Men his age, the boy didn't really know what he wanted to do, and he didn't seem too concerned about it. One day, while the boy was away at school, his father decided to try an experiment. He went into the boy's room and placed on his study table four objects.

1. A Bible.....?

2. A silver dollar.....?

3. A bottle of whisky.....?

4. And a Playboy magazine.....?

'I'll just hide behind the door,' the old preacher said to himself. 'When he comes home from school today, I'll see which object he picks up.

If it's the Bible, he's going to be a preacher like me, and what a

Blessing that would be!

If he picks up the dollar, he's going to be a business man, and that would be okay, too.

But if he picks up the bottle, he's going to be a no-good drunken bum, and Lord, what a shame that would be.

And worst of all if he picks up that magazine he's going to be a

Skirt-chasing womanizer.'

The old man waited anxiously, and soon heard his son's foot-steps as he entered the house whistling and headed for his room.

The boy tossed his books on the bed, and as he turned to leave the room he spotted the objects on the table..

With curiosity in his eye, he walked over to inspect them. Finally, he picked up the Bible and placed it under his arm. He picked up the silver dollar and dropped into his pocket. He uncorked the bottle and took a big drink, while he admired this month's centerfold.

Tuesday, September 08, 2009

“While those who wielded the Constantinian sword throughout history undoubtedly convinced themselves they were wielding the sword in love–this is a common self-delusion among religious power brokers–lording over, torturing, and killing people does not communicate their unsurpassable worth to them; it is not loving….One wonders why no one in church history as ever been considered a heretic for being unloving. People were anathematized and often tortured and killed for disagreeing on matters of doctrine or on the authority of the church. But no one on record has ever been so much as rebuked for not loving as Christ loved. Yet if love is to be placed above all other considerations, if nothing has any value apart from love, and if the only thing that matters is faith working in love, how is it that possessing Christlike love has never been considered the central test of orthodoxy? How is it that those who tortured and burned heretics were not themselves considered heretics for doing so? Was this not heresy of the worst sort? How is it that those who perpetuated such things were not only deemed heretics but often were (and yet are) held up as heroes of the faith?”

Saturday, September 05, 2009

Here is a new T-shirt with a message I am spreading. "Hate is not a Christian virtue". Please buy one if want to help support the different ministries I do. Thanks! BTW I only make $5.00 a shirt if you think the price is too much.

It is sad when the “sinner” shows more love for others than the pastor.

Note the logic from the pastor… where have you all heard this sort of logic before? I have... from the ODM's who claim to be above the higher Law of Love.

This pastor’s method is not of love… not of God… and is spreading a gospel of hate and fear through judgmentalism and condemnation…

And this is what I hear the ODM’s doing… maybe a milder form of it… but deep down it is all the same hate based gospel. Personally I am saddened... and want to apologize to the GLBT community for so called Christians like this and what they say. Hate is not a Christian virtue...

Thursday, September 03, 2009

What I have learned from my critics.Disclaimer: First off if you disagree with me, that is fine and to disagree and talk and discuss in a way that is respectful and thoughtful is a great and wonderful thing. In this we can grow with each other. This post is in no way about you. So please take this in the context of those who attack and judge… not seek to gain understanding. In this I see that it is out of love that many of you have approached me… and even ending our disagreements with kind words. It is not a sin to disagree, especially on minor things. Personally I have learned to hold tightly to the essentials, and loosely to the non essentials. In that I mean give grace in areas that though may be important, do not keep one from gaining salvation that comes from Jesus alone. So what have I learned from my critics?Truth:Romans 13: 9. The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 10. Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 11. And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.What I have learned:I learned that it is a good thing to harm your neighbor… especially if it concerns one that they have to be right in their view at the detriment of another. I have learned from you that Love your neighbor does not apply if it interferes with your doctrines. I see that it is better to fulfill the Law, than to Love.Truth: 1 Corinthians 131. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10. but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.I have learned: If one is right and the other is wrong I can go off the handle at any moment and show no to little self control in my actions. I can call names and make fun or ruin someone’s reputation as long as I am right on my view of doctrine. If I see someone who seems to have strong views and may even envy them, it is better to mock them and tear them down because they could lead others astray and to trust God with judgment would be unheard of. I have learned that politeness is not a ‘christian’ virtue, nor kindness, for anger as long as it is ‘righteous anger’ can justify most any action… and self justification is one of the main unwritten doctrines I have found you follow. I learned it is best to keep a long list of wrongs so I can pull them out and read them to mock or use them even if I have to twist someone’s words to make them look bad. I have learned to use evil to protect the truth.I have learned to not trust that God is working outside of my own actions… so to trust in God is of no value… I must either judge and condemn now, as I am ‘truthing in love’ and save this person from their error. And to even consider what they may know would be an act of humility, which has no place in your unwritten doctrinal statement.I have learned that love will not persevere if it interferes with your personal doctrine and to give up hope on someone if having any is of no value. I have learned that if love fails… hate prevails. For hate is a ‘christian’ value and a virtue.Truth: 1 John 3: 13. Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. 14. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. 16. This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18. Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.1 John 4: 19. We love because he first loved us. 20. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.I have learned: I have learned that it is not only good but right to hate your brother if he thinks or speaks in any way contrary to my own personal view of doctrine. It is better to sacrifice the brother to be right than to give into self sacrifice. It is better to take away from someone else be it material or spiritual possessions and have no pity on him. It is better to speak the words of love like a seducer, than to love in action… It is better to hate one’s brother in the name of your doctrine, than to love him if I disagree. Jesus and the Bible are only for you to use to abuse others to get your way, and to prove how much you love your doctrines. I want to thank you for setting me on the path or self righteousness. I now see that Gandhi was very wrong when he said; “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”---Mahatma GandhiI wonder where Gandhi ever picked up on this view? Maybe because he was not a Christian as I have begun to learn to be, from my critics.Blessings?iggy

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

"I am four days into my ‘Lessons’ tour and so far loving it. My time to date has been spent in Calvin College engaging in fascinating debates with Kevin Corcoran, Jason Clark, Jamie Smith, Lori Wilson and Michael Wittmer. Many subjects have been covered, but perhaps the most pertinent one revolved around the place and nature of belief in faith.

At one point in the proceedings someone asked if my theoretical position led me to denying the Resurrection of Christ. This question allowed me the opportunity to communicate clearly and concisely my thoughts on the subject, which I repeat here.

Without equivocation or hesitation I fully and completely admit that I deny the resurrection of Christ. This is something that anyone who knows me could tell you, and I am not afraid to say it publicly, no matter what some people may think… "

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

JasonCurlee.com is doing the 90 Day Xtreme Bible Reading Plan. I think it should be fun as I have never read the bible through all the way. That does not mean I have not read the whole bible, just never have read from Genesis to Revelation on purpose.

If you want to join him as I am also thinking of starting today... Sept 1 let me know... oh and let Jason know iggy sent you.

Also if you want the Bible on MP3 format my friend Jason Gastrich at JCSM.org has the NIV and KJV available for free.

'Tis common for us to speak of various graces of the Spirit of God as though they were so many different principles of holiness, and to call them by distinct names as such, —repentance, humility, resignation, thankfulness, etc. But we err if we imagine that these in their first source and root in the heart are properly distinct principles. They all come from the same fountain, and are, indeed, the various exertions and conditions of the same thing, only different denominations according to the various occasions, objects, and manners, attendants and circumstances of its exercise. There is some one holy principle in the heart that is the essence and sum of all grace, the root and source of all holy acts of every kind, and the fountain of every good stream, into which all Christian virtues may ultimately be resolved, and in which all duty and [all] holiness is fulfilled." — from the introduction to Chapter 2Read this classic at the CCEL

I have encountered many who use Jonathan Edwards sermon title "Sinners in the hands of an angry God" and it seems they never really listened to it. In fact the other day I was told by someone who seemed to think that they knew so much more than me, that repentance is a work. I stated it was not and to turn it into a "work" then means we earned Grace and forgiveness and thus forfeit God's grace. All of these things (as Edwards states above) are by God's grace: "repentance, humility, resignation, thankfulness, etc."

I would rather be in error with Edwards than agree with my "friend" who claims grace then negates it with his Gospel of works. Now I will state one thing, I see no mention of "common grace" in the bible and see that really there is no such thing no matter how someone tries to make it so. Grace is the substance that holds all things together in all creation. Grace is God's very emotion that is expressed in the Person of Jesus Christ. To state that there is some lesser Grace in my view diminishes all Grace. If you state God has come special grace for some and a lesser grace for others, then... that is favoritism. God gave grace in the very fact he held off judgment until Christ Jesus was revealed. Now, Grace is given to all and by this Grace anyone can be saved through faith. If this is rejected, meaning Jesus who is Grace unto Grace... or very Grace Incarnate then there is no more Grace to be had only judgment. I praise God for His great Grace every day. It was not cheap and cannot be cheapened. It was paid for by the very blood of Jesus on the Cross... If there be cheap Grace then it is from those who mouth "grace" and then steal it away by works.

The point I love from Jonathan Edwards is his focus on this great and wonderful Grace and I view the common/special grace but a minor disagreement. I pray that those who misuse Jonathan Edwards words would someday read his words and find God's Grace for themselves.

"The author of "Pagan Christianity?" (with George Barna), "Reimagining Church," and the bestselling "From Eternity to Here" has written a detailed manual on how to start and sustain an organic church. Everything from what to do with the children, to the developmental stages of church growth, to the diseases of an organic church and their cures are all covered in this comprehensive volume. Church planting principles for organic styled churches are packed together with the author's practical experience of living in and starting such churches. Each chapter is full of advice, outlining the unique problems that such churches will face and their solutions. Church planters of all types will benefit from this book as well as those wishing to explore an alternative way of church gathering." – Christian Book Reviews, 20092. The long awaited and controversial Derek Webb CD is out officially today.

You can download the 'Uncensored' version NOW, directly from Derek, with any of six packages including 'digital-only' with lots of digital extras, 3 different quality resolutions (including HD) of 'Paradise Is A Parking Lot' (the hour-long documentary film about Stockholm Syndrome), full multi-track stems of the entire album (in WAV format) for remixing, limited edition Stockholm Syndrome t-shirts and much more. The CD is also available on iTUNES.